Improvement in device for preventing- hens from scratching



ELI RICE, OF WEST NORTHFIELD, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND N.

M @spie I @wat @than .29

RICHARDSON, OF .FITCHBU RG, MASSACHUSETTS.

I Letters Patent No. 84,303, dated November 24, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICE FOR PREVENTING- HENS FROM SGRATCfll'z'lIll'Gr.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part ofthe same.

To all jwhom it may concern Be it known that I, ELI RICE, of West Northfield, in the county of Franklin, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Device for Preventing Fowls from Scratching, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speciicatio11,in which Figures l and 2 are perspective views, representing my improved devices.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the same.

Y 'Io providea simple means for preventing fowls from scratching the ground, and removing seed therefrom during planting-time, and from marring the smooth and finished appearance of garden-plots, is the object of my invention, consisting in a clog or plate, provided with an opening near one end, for the reception of the leg of the fowl, the other end terminating in a point, so 'that when a fowl provided with this device attempts to scratch, the forward movement of the leg willserve 41to draw the point forward, and on the backward movement of the leg the point will :enter the ground, and the fowl be tilted or impelled forward, a-nd thus be prevented rom scratching.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the mannerA in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a plate or clog, in

the larger end of which is formed an opening, alpinto which the leg ofthe fowl is to be inserted, which may be readily done by folding the claws together. The opposite end of this plate inclines slightly downward, and terminates in apoint, b. The plate is intended to be so placed .as' to bring the point in the rear of the fowl.

ln iig. l the plate is provided with a metallic point, whilel in tig. 2 the point is iliade in 011e and the same piece a-s the plate.

A- fowl, when provided with Inv-improved clogs, is prevented from scratching, as the forward and upward movement of the leg will (haw the point forward, so as to cause it to enter the ground on the downward and backward movement of the leg, which thus operates to throw the fowl forward, awayfrom the place where it intended to scratch.

Instead of the construction above "described, the opening a. ma)Y be dispensed with, and the clog attached in its proper position upon the fowls leg by means of a string or wire.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is

The \\'ithin-described device for preventing fowls from; 

